Fire claims life of Peacehaven child (4)
Although much is unclear about the incident, it is believed that the 4-year-old probably died as a result of inhalation of hot air/gasses.
VEREENIGING.- A four-year-old boy tragically burned to death in a house fire at a commune on Jansen Avenue in Peacehaven, Vereeniging.
Thami Nzono (4) is said to have been sleeping in the room where he resides with his mother Nomvula Nzono (33) and brother Gift (8) on Friday 17 July when the fire broke out.
Gift, who was in the room with Thami, managed to escape the inferno, but his younger brother was not so lucky.
The commune resides 11 people, of which one of the residents said a shattering of glass was first heard after which they discovered smoke billowing out of the room. 
Rachel Links recalls that the incident happened at around 20:36, after power had been restored to Peacehaven, following yet another power cut in the neighbourhood.
“The electricity was off for about an hour or two. When the lights eventually came back on again it was flickering. Shortly after that we heard the noise of glass breaking, something like an explosion,” she recalls.
“At first we thought it was kids playing, but it turns out they were inside the room sleeping when it happened. We heard children screaming. I opened the door but I couldn’t get inside. There was lots of smoke and it was hot. We couldn’t reach the children inside. The big boy managed to escape but the small one was trapped inside,” explains Links.
Their mother Nomvula Nzono (33) explains that she was further down Jansen Avenue when the fire started.
“The power went off earlier. An electricity box down the street had caught fire and I went out to investigate it.
“When I was at the box I received an SMS from the neighbour notifying me that the house was on fire. I rushed home to find the house on fire,” explained the distraught mother.
Upon arrival the mother could hear her child inside the house screaming for help.
Nomvula tried to go in the house twice but was left with no option but to retreat because of the intense heat.
Although much is unclear about the incident, it is believed that the 4-year-old probably died as a result of inhalation of hot air/gasses.
Firefighters later managed to bring the fire under control and retrieved the charred body from the room.
“That boy was so brilliant. He was so clever and obedient. When you gave him an instruction he always obeyed,” said a family member.
“I am feeling so sad. I have lost my child. Maybe if I was home, I could have done something,” said Nomvula.
According to Nomvula, her 8-year-old is still very traumatised after the incident.
“He keeps on asking me when we are going to see his brother again. He saw the ambulance take him to hospital.
“He wants to know when we will see him again,” said Nomvula.
According to Tersia Venter, a community leader, the community as well as organisations and businesses such as the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce, Showers of Blessings and Riversquare Shopping Centre joined hands to help Nomvula and her son, who have now been left without a home and are currently residing at a family member’s home. Several other people inside the house also lost their possessions in the fire and have been assisted.
The affected persons were provided with groceries and clothing.
“While the above brought much needed short-term relief, those people will need a lot more assistance and I ask the community to help in this regards. Pots, cooking utensils, a two-plate stove, cups, plates, paint, ceiling board and anything you can spare could help these people,” says Tersia.
Those able to assist can contact Tersia on 084 050 4826.
